Piano-action-operating mechanism for mechanical musical instruments.



Patented Feb 8, I916.

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W. F. COOPER. PIANO ACTION OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-23.1909.

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Wiflwsses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM F. COOPER, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

PIANO-ACTION-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed August 23, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. COOPER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Nor-walk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- Action-Operating Mechanism for Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to piano action operating mechanism for mechanical musical instruments, and more particularly to the means of effecting motion between the individual notes of the player mechanism and corresponding ones in a piano action.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of connection between the player and piano action, to effect the operation of their respective note mechanism, and also to provide a readily detachable means, whereby the piano action may be instantly removed from the piano, in the ordinary accepted method as now used. Also, to provide means whereby the player note mechanisms may be detached from communication with the piano action, so that the player mechanism will not interfere with the piano parts.

Another object is to provide ready means of adjusting and regulating each of the individual actuated members of the player and piano action by which the lost motion between the two said members may be taken up.

Another object is to provide means for regulating the lost motion of either the player note mechanisms or the piano note mechanisms independent of each other.

Referring to the drawing, the figure is a cross section view through one of the individual note mechanism operating connections between the player and piano action, and also showing a sectional view of a por' tion of one of the piano keys, a part of the key bed, and a part of the abstract of the piano action.

A shows a portion of the back edge of the key bod, upon which the piano key B is mounted in the customary manner. 6 is a capstan screw for the said piano key, which screwed in the said piano key in position, so that upon its upward motion, it will operate the piano abstract or sticker, C. This construction is the accepted piano method today, and for that reason I do not consider it necessary to show more of these parts than that shown. This piano Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Serial No. 514,320.

sticker C, or abstract as it is generally termed, is ordinarily made in the shape of a vertical rod, but in my present construction, for the purpose of providing space for the player action regulating screw e, and giving it the proper angle, I have curved the abstract back as shown, making it substantially an L shape at the lower end, or as it,

were, forming a foot at the point where it is actuated by the piano key.

At D I provide a pitman rail or support extending lengthwise of the instrument, and having mounted thereon the pitman wires or rods f, for the purpose of affording connection between the individual player action operating mechanism 9, and the player action operating mechanism regulating screw 6, with its corresponding button 6'. These pitman wires are provided at the ends with buttons f and 7, contacting respectively with the regulating button 6' and the individual player action operating mechanism g. The pitman rail D is provided with a bracket h, for attaching the said rail to the piano key-bed A. This bracket h is preferably provided with a slot h, thereby allowing the rail D to be so adjusted up or down that the button 7" will rest upon or close to the felted portion (1 when the parts are in engagement. It also provides an extremely simple mechanism whereby the piano action (only the abstract of which is shown) can be removed in the generally accepted manner, and also whereby the connection between the piano action and the player action operating mechanism may be detached instantly. I preferably end the lower portion of the pitman or its button f at or slightly below the plane of the bottom of the piano keybed, so that the player mechanism (not shown) and the player action operating mechanism 9 may be freely removed underneath the key-bed A. This, as will readily be seen, provides a very simple and effective mechanism, whereby each of the player action operating mechanisms may be readily adjusted while the piano action is in the piano, by screwing in or out the player action operating mechanism regulating screw e.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a musical instrument, a key, a key bed, a piano action abstract in position to be actuated by said key, said abstract having a foot at its lower end, player action operating mechanism, a regulating screw carried by the foot of said abstract having a contact button, and a pitman rod vertically adjustable With respect to and supported from the key-bed, means to hold the rod in adjusted relation with respect to the key-bed, said rod extending below the key-bed and forming a connection between the player action operating mechanism and the regulating screw carried by the abstract.

2. In a musical instrument, a key, a keybed, a piano action abstract in position to be actuated by said key, player action op- Copies of this patent may be obtained for crating mechanism, a bracket carried by the key bed, a pitman rail adjustable on said bracket, means for securing the rail in adjustment, a regulating screw carried by the lower end of the abstract having a button 20 WILLIAM F. COOPER.

Witnesses:

EDGAR L. MARTIN, GERTRUDE HOGAN.

fi've cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

